U.S. Debate as Seen from Germany

Those in Germany who were hoping to hear about future transatlantic relations in the final presidential debate, focused on foreign policy, were clearly disappointed. In fact, it was not because of something the candidates said, but because of what they did not say. Germany was not mentioned with a single word as the emphasis of the discussion was on the Middle East and Asia and on the role of the American military. From a German perspective, the debate was a disappointing from different points of view. On the one hand, the mainstream political parties, including the Liberals and Christian Democrats in government as well as the Social Democrats in opposition, acknowledged with regret that the US focus is shifting away from the European continent. On the other hand, the left-wing Linke and parts of the Green Party, who both see themselves as pacifist movements, were disappointed by how President Obama presented himself as a hawkish Commander-in-chief. Despite ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, they accuse him of failing to close Guantánamo and using drones to kill suspects abroad.